Nor was I hungry–so I found
That Hunger–was a way
Of Persons outside Windows–
The Entering–takes away–

_____

I meant to have but modest needs

I meant to have but modest needs–
Such as Content–and Heaven–
Within my income–these could lie
And Life and I–keep even–

But since the last–included both–
It would suffice my Prayer
But just for One–to stipulate–
And Grace would grant the Pair–

And so–upon this wise–I prayed–
Great Spirit–Give to me
A Heaven not so large as Yours,
But large enough–for me–

A Smile suffused Jehovah’s face–
The Cherubim–withdrew–
Grave Saints stole out to look at me–
And showed their dimples–too–

I left the Place, with all my might–
I threw my Prayer away–
The Quiet Ages picked it up–
And Judgment–twinkled–too–
Tat one so honest–be extant–
It take the Tale for true–
That “Whatsoever Ye shall ask–
Itself be given You”–

But I, grown shrewder–scan the Skies
With a suspicious Air–
As Children–swindled for the first
All Swindlers–be–infer–

_____

I worked for chaff and earning Wheat

I worked for chaff and earning Wheat
Was haughty and betrayed.
What right had Fields to arbitrate
In matters ratified?

I tasted Wheat and hated Chaff
And thanked the ample friend–
Wisdom is more becoming viewed
At distance than at hand.

_____

It sifts from Leaden Sieves

It sifts from Leaden Sieves–
It powders all the Wood.
It fills with Alabaster Wool
The Wrinkles of the Road–

It makes an Even Face
Of Mountain and of Plain–
Unbroken Forehead from the East
Unto the East again–

It reaches to the Fence–
It wraps it Rail by Rail
Till it is lost in Fleeces–
It deals Celestial Veil

To Stump and Stack–and Stem–
A Summer’s empty Room–
Acres of Joints where Harvests were,
Recordless, but for them–

It Ruffles Wrists of Posts
As Ankles of a Queen–
Then stills its Artisans–like Ghosts,
Denying they have been–

_____

One Blessing had I than the rest

One Blessing had I than the rest
So larger to my Eyes
That I stopped gauging–satisfied–
For this enchanted size–

It was the limit of my Dream–
The focus of my Prayer–
A perfect–paralyzing Bliss–
Contented as Despair–

I knew no more of Want–or Cold–
Phantasms both become
For this new Value in the Soul–
Supremest Earthly Sum–

Partaken–it relieves–indeed–
But proves us
That Spices fly
In the Receipt–It was the Distance–
Was Savory–

_____

Unto my Books–so good to turn

Unto my Books–so good to turn–
Far ends of tired Days–
It half endears the Abstinence–
And Pain–is missed–in Praise–

As Flavors–cheer Retarded Guests
With Banquettings to be–
So Spices–stimulate the time
Till my small Library–

It may be Wilderness–without–
Far feet of failing Men–
But Holiday–excludes the night–
And it is Bells–within–

I thank these Kinsmen of the Shelf–
Their Countenances Kid
Enamor–in Prospective–
And satisfy–obtained–

_____

Victory comes late

Victory comes late–
And is held low to freezing lips–
Too rapt with frost
To take it–
How sweet it would have tasted–
Just a Drop–
Was God so economical?
His Table’s spread too high for Us–
Unless We dine on tiptoe–
Crumbs–fit such little mouths–
Cherries–suit Robbins–
The Eagle’s Golden Breakfast strangles–Them–
God keep His Oath to Sparrows–
Who of little Love–know how to starve–